A US high school student who had committed to and paid deposits for her "dream" university withdrew her enrolment just weeks before orientation to attend a smaller college closer to home. The decision, made in the spring of her senior year, prompted a scramble to secure a new place and recover costs.
The student, whose story was shared by her mother Katy M. Clark in Business Insider, had initially been thrilled to accept a place at a large university 2,000 miles away in a mountain setting, which aligned with her interest in environmental studies. The family had publicly celebrated the decision and paid a housing deposit.
A Change of Heart
Despite earlier excitement, the student reversed her decision one week after being accepted into the university's Honours College in March. She told her mother she preferred a small college approximately 100 miles from their family home.
"I was stunned," Clark wrote. "I must have asked her a dozen times if she was sure." The mother described processing the practical fallout, which involved tracking down deadlines for the new institution and attempting to recover money from the original university.
Trusting Instincts
Clark noted her daughter had expressed a preference for smaller colleges and proximity to home during visits as a freshman and sophomore, feelings she had initially set aside. "If I were honest with myself, I felt relieved that she was staying closer to home," Clark admitted.
The emotional challenge culminated in withdrawing the enrolment online. "I hovered over the button, caught off guard by how final it felt," Clark recounted, acknowledging the difficulty in accepting her daughter's changed mind.
Looking Forward
A year later, Clark confirmed the smaller college has been "a good fit" for her daughter. The student has since suggested the original dream school might be considered for graduate study.
"I know it's not my job to hold onto the dream," Clark concluded, "but to make space for whatever dream she chooses next."